Peak Theatre

1315 N. Peak Street,

Dallas,
TX75204

I went to the Peak St. Theater when I was young. For a dime you could see a double feature, three or four serials and cartoons and sometimes a magic show. The price was raised to 25 cents, but we got a drink and a hot dog. We used to walk from Junius St. every Saturday to see the shows. My favorite was Lash LaRue and the Rocket man.

The Peak Theater opened at 1315 N. Peak near Bryan St. in Dallas in 1915 owned by A.D. Bethard with a seating capacity of 600 at opening. During the Depression, the Peak offered free midnight shows for the poor and unemployed. The former owner of the Melrose Theater, P.G. Cameron, purchased the theater Feb. 16, 1935. This would time out to a 20 year lease for the original owner. Cameron updated the theater in 1945 which likely accounts for the additional seat count of 695 cited above. At that time, Cameron’s portfolio also included the Urban and Grove.

The final operator of the theater, Kenneth Ward Crabtree, bought the theater in 1953 at age 26. His last film appears to be the December 16, 1955 showing of “The Kentuckian” and “New Orleans Uncensored.” There are no more bookings or ads for the Peak thereafter. And, unfortunately for the Peak and Crabtree, he was indicted, charged with arson for burning the theater down on Feb. 6, 1956. Investigators found that the theater had been doused in petroleum that — once lit — wrecked the theater which was later demolished as a result. The space was taken by J&J Manufacturing which ironically suffered a catastrophic fire that obliterated the building and left a black smoke path miles long across East Dallas.